Study on Normal Strength Concrete Flanged Beams with Non-Metallic Reinforcements

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the flexural behaviour of reinforced concrete flanged beams reinforced with Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcements under Static Loading. Different parameters like grade of concrete, types GFRP reinforcements and reinforcement ratios are considered. Firstly, the preliminary laboratory tests to assess the basic properties of Normal Strength Concrete (NSC), conventional Steel and GFRP reinforcements and the results are presented. Secondly, the experimental investigations of the flexural behaviour of flanged beams reinforced with GFRP reinforcements under static loadings are compared with that of flanged beams reinforced with conventional steel reinforcements. A total of nine beams are cast, out of which three reinforced with conventional steel reinforcement and six reinforced with two types of surface treated GFRP Reinforcements. Three different reinforcement ratios are considered. The static load carrying capacities of conventional steel and GFRP reinforced flanged beams are then compared. The sand coated GFRP reinforced beams are performed well and all the tested values are at par with and superior than the conventional steel reinforced beams.